Anglo American women entered the nineteenth century passively as the colonial times were being absorbed by industrialization, but would quickly change. Romance novels were introduced, stressing the idea that marriage should be out of love and not for monetary gains. Soon marriages were being based more on physical attractiveness, leading to wives being looked at as companions and not servants by their husbands. Along with finding more fulfillment in their marriages, Anglo women began being incorporated into the social reform ideas for creating the perfect society.6

Many spent their existence in the fields from sunup to sundown, where the teachings of their youngest daughters took place. Some larger plantations had groups of women called “trash gangs.” These were made up primarily of children being introduced to plantation labor, pregnant women, and elderly members of the slave population. With such a difference in age amongst members of “trash gangs,” many lessons on life, religion, and culture were passed down to the youngest of the female slaves.4

The important aspect of these additional jobs was that they offered the women a chance to increase their respect and status among other slaves and the slave owner.2

Many tribes experienced different outcomes as Anglo Americans reformed to create a perfect society. The Cherokee Indian women occupied a separate sphere from men like Anglo American women, but held much more importance on the Indian economy, politics, and society. Their responsibilities included usual domestic tasks such as cooking, sewing, and caring for children. Like African American women, they took on additional roles. Native American women did most of the farming and labor as it was believed to be a part of their gender, just as hunting was a part of being male. Husbands lived with their wives’ families as property and ownership was mainly matriarchal.

Excelling at a task offered some women slaves opportunities others could not receive. An exceptional seamstress might sew clothes for her master to sell, sometimes retaining a bit of the profit she made for him. Midwifery was difficult and took several years to learn, but once a woman was able to assist in childbirth, she often found herself helping in many other areas. Midwives responsibilities usually extended to caring for men and children, as well as pregnant women. In fact, the majority of a slave’s medical care was provided by these women slaves.3 Not every female slave had such opportunities, though.

Some topics in this essay:
African American, Anglo American, Lyon Beecher, Native American, Womanhood”7 Anglo, African Americans, Native Americans, Anglo Americans, Manifest Destiny, Nineteenth Century, american women, nineteenth century, native american, anglo american, anglo women, native american women, slave women, african american, anglo american women, african american women, woman able, races women, social reform, nineteenth century social, free slave african,